t"\ i t 'f--r--;Q/ t.'t H :: "* "i.* \ L T, G I 1I L t Statute even before we ratified iL Even then, this ratification gives us the added value of being part of an international treaty regime centered around the ICC, the various mechanisms and resources of which we now have access to as a State-Party. More so now that a Filipino in the person of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has since been elected as a judge of the ICC. The potential of this access in terms of securing appropriate assistance for our overall efforts in effecting IHL has yet to be really studied. What is clear, in general terms, is that in so far as the Rome Statute and the ICC represent the highest development of international criminal law to date, then our linkage to this judicial and jurisprudential technology cannot but help upgrade our own criminal justice system, itself a much needed judicial reform. Some aspects of criminal law reform are actually already embodied in RA 985I." With RA 9851, Judge Soliman said that there has been a corresponding raising of consciousness of IHL as a distinct normative frameworh most notably in the AFP. One concrete "small" example, he said, is that our soldiers now recite "pledges of commitmenf to IHL. Further, he quoted ROUNDTABLE DISCUS5ION r t w. r AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban wh<r said that'There is no place for barbarism in the noble profession of arms. In fac! our profession demands that we remain as humane as possible even in the face of beasfly and savage aqgressors." Judge Soliman said that this is a "small" pledge for the soldier, but a giant leap for the armed forces. He noted the observation of civil society quarters that "there is a generally improved adherence to human rights and IHL among uniformed personnel, with less violations committed by those who have undergone education and training in human rights and IHL, which is now the main effort of the AFP Human Rights Office." Judge Soliman added that'what may be the real giant leap, no less than a major paradigm shift, for the AFP is a strong plafform on human rights-lHL rule of law, accountability and civilian engagement offered by its IntemalPeace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan,which in tum relates to security sector reform, including defense refom." He said "the aspect of civilian engagement in general is also particularly relevant to the promotion of human rights and IHL because these causes are traditional advocacy issues of civil society organizations (CSOs)."